Jan 6, 2026 - News
Charted: Our rising "HLEAahhhurkurkBLEAAH"
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
If it feels like everyone around you is getting sick — you're not alone.
The big picture: The U.S. is seeing a massive surge in flu cases this winter, many of them attributed to the so-called super flu.
Zoom in: In Iowa, influenza activity was considered high for the week of Dec. 21-Dec. 27, according to the CDC.
- Weekly flu results gathered from health care facilities statewide show that positive cases spiked 13% from the previous week.
- Flu A was the dominant strain.
What to watch for: Common colds often begin very slowly and emerge over several days, per the Mayo Clinic.
- But a case of the flu ignites within two or three days of coming into contact with the virus.